VeeJay
24-11-2005, 05:07 PM
Cat breeder faces neglect charges
JOTHI JEYASINGAM
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24:
In a rare case, a cat breeder went on trial yesterday on four counts of neglecting four Persian cats under his care.
Abdul Rashid Mohd Othman, 50, an automobile company employee, has been rearing pedigree felines for the past 15 years, and is also a member of an online cat fan club.
He breeds and sells cats to pet shops and cat lovers. But more than that, it has been his hobby for several years.
Abdul Rashid’s obsession with cats, however, was questioned when he was charged with neglect yesterday.
The trial has been set for two days and six prosecution witnesses are expected to take the stand.
Yesterday’s proceedings saw a large turnout at the magistrate’s court. Also present were officials from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and cat lovers.
Three of the four cats in question were brought to the lower court premises in cages for inspection by witnesses, the accused and counsel.
In many other similar animal neglect cases, the offenders pleaded guilty when charged and immediately paid the fine.
Abdul Rashid’s case is a rare one, as he is contesting the charges.
When he was charged on Oct 28, Abdul Rashid pleaded guilty but when he was shown photographs of the felines, he denied they were in that condition when taken from his house.
The three cats are said to be suffering from conjunctivitis and alopecic skin (baldness) on their bodies and tail. One of the two males died on Oct 4.
Under Section 44(1)(d) of the Animals Ordinance 1953, Abdul Rashid is liable to be fined not more than RM200 or six months jail, or both.
The first witness to testify yesterday was Zairul Hisham Abu Hassan, an enforcement assistant from the Veterinary Services Department, who rescued the felines from Abdul Rashid’s house.
Testifying under examination in-chief by Veterinary Services prosecuting officer Tee Thian See, the witness said that about 12.30pm on Sept 21, he went to a house at 65, Jalan Wan Malini 1, Sri Petaling, after the department received a complaint about cruelty to cats.
The complaint was from a member of the public.
Tee: Who was at home then?
Witness: Faizul Azhar Khusairy, 24, Abdul Rashid’s son.
Tee: What did you do there?
Witness: I inspected the 30 cats, and found that four of them, two males and two females, had a serious eye condition.
Tee: What did you do then?
Witness: Since I was told that there were no medical records for the cats, I told Faizul that an offence of neglect under the Animals Ordinance 1953 had been committed.
Zairul said he then recorded Faizul’s details in the inspection form, took six photographs of the cats, and proceeded to the Sri Petaling police station to lodge a report.
The witness said he then brought the cats back to the department for treatment.
Under cross-examination by counsel Robert Devan, Zairul said he only received instructions from his superior to go to Abdul Rashid’s house, but he did not know who lodged the complaint, or when it was done.
Robert: Where were the cats placed?
Witness: In a specially built room, attached to the side of the house.
Robert: Did you inspect all the cats, one by one?
Witness: No, I did a random inspection.
Robert: What did you do after singling out the four cats?
Witness: I told Faizul that by looking at the cats, it was obvious that they had been neglected.
Robert: Are you medically qualified to determine that the four cats were suffering from skin and eye ailment?
Witness: No.
Trial before magistrate Azniza Mohd Ali continues today.
http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Thursday/Frontpage/20051124110112/Article/index_html
JOTHI JEYASINGAM
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24:
In a rare case, a cat breeder went on trial yesterday on four counts of neglecting four Persian cats under his care.
Abdul Rashid Mohd Othman, 50, an automobile company employee, has been rearing pedigree felines for the past 15 years, and is also a member of an online cat fan club.
He breeds and sells cats to pet shops and cat lovers. But more than that, it has been his hobby for several years.
Abdul Rashid’s obsession with cats, however, was questioned when he was charged with neglect yesterday.
The trial has been set for two days and six prosecution witnesses are expected to take the stand.
Yesterday’s proceedings saw a large turnout at the magistrate’s court. Also present were officials from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and cat lovers.
Three of the four cats in question were brought to the lower court premises in cages for inspection by witnesses, the accused and counsel.
In many other similar animal neglect cases, the offenders pleaded guilty when charged and immediately paid the fine.
Abdul Rashid’s case is a rare one, as he is contesting the charges.
When he was charged on Oct 28, Abdul Rashid pleaded guilty but when he was shown photographs of the felines, he denied they were in that condition when taken from his house.
The three cats are said to be suffering from conjunctivitis and alopecic skin (baldness) on their bodies and tail. One of the two males died on Oct 4.
Under Section 44(1)(d) of the Animals Ordinance 1953, Abdul Rashid is liable to be fined not more than RM200 or six months jail, or both.
The first witness to testify yesterday was Zairul Hisham Abu Hassan, an enforcement assistant from the Veterinary Services Department, who rescued the felines from Abdul Rashid’s house.
Testifying under examination in-chief by Veterinary Services prosecuting officer Tee Thian See, the witness said that about 12.30pm on Sept 21, he went to a house at 65, Jalan Wan Malini 1, Sri Petaling, after the department received a complaint about cruelty to cats.
The complaint was from a member of the public.
Tee: Who was at home then?
Witness: Faizul Azhar Khusairy, 24, Abdul Rashid’s son.
Tee: What did you do there?
Witness: I inspected the 30 cats, and found that four of them, two males and two females, had a serious eye condition.
Tee: What did you do then?
Witness: Since I was told that there were no medical records for the cats, I told Faizul that an offence of neglect under the Animals Ordinance 1953 had been committed.
Zairul said he then recorded Faizul’s details in the inspection form, took six photographs of the cats, and proceeded to the Sri Petaling police station to lodge a report.
The witness said he then brought the cats back to the department for treatment.
Under cross-examination by counsel Robert Devan, Zairul said he only received instructions from his superior to go to Abdul Rashid’s house, but he did not know who lodged the complaint, or when it was done.
Robert: Where were the cats placed?
Witness: In a specially built room, attached to the side of the house.
Robert: Did you inspect all the cats, one by one?
Witness: No, I did a random inspection.
Robert: What did you do after singling out the four cats?
Witness: I told Faizul that by looking at the cats, it was obvious that they had been neglected.
Robert: Are you medically qualified to determine that the four cats were suffering from skin and eye ailment?
Witness: No.
Trial before magistrate Azniza Mohd Ali continues today.
http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/MM/Thursday/Frontpage/20051124110112/Article/index_html